The main cause of the Vietnam war was that Vietnam didn't want to be ruled by foreign powers. France currently ruled Vietnam and its neighbors as colonies but before the French, China had ruled them for more than 200 years! Needless to say they were long overdue for a revolution.
Starting in the early 1900's Nationalist parties started forming for the reform of the French colonial government. One of the men on the forefront of the nationalist movement was Ho Chi Minh. After Japan gave up control of Indonesia Ho Chi Minh quickly declared Vietnam an independent country. France however would have none of that and drove Vietminh troops into hiding in 1946. Slowly but surely the Vietminh started taking their country back and driving away French troops. France appealed to America for help. America was caught in a difficult situation. While America was against Colonization, after the red scare and the theory of the domino effect they were even more against Communism. So America agreed to help them.
Even with U.S. support French soldiers were brutally hit at every turn by the Vietminh guerrilla tactics. After the defeat at Dien Bien Phu, on May 7, 1954 France finally turned tail and surrender. The Geneva Accords was written and Vietnam was divided on the 17th parallel into North (commy) Vietnam and South (western) Vietnam. The U.S Instated Ngo Dinh Diem to govern South Vietnam. He was a very corrupt leader and made sure he stayed in power. Eisenhower approved his actions and sent aid to South Vietnam. Some South Vietnamese people revolted and formed the Vietcong.
With the Vietminh, Vietcong, Ho Chi Minh Trail, credibility gaps and Tet offensive and America's own citizens against them Nixon finally was forced to call of what is probably the most embarrassing war the U.S. ever fought in. Within a few years South Vietnam was conquered by North Vietnam. That war really was useless.
Starting in the early 1900's Nationalist parties started forming for the reform of the French colonial government. One of the men on the forefront of the nationalist movement was Ho Chi Minh. After Japan gave up control of Indonesia Ho Chi Minh quickly declared Vietnam an independent country. France however would have none of that and drove Vietminh troops into hiding in 1946. Slowly but surely the Vietminh started taking their country back and driving away French troops. France appealed to America for help. America was caught in a difficult situation. While America was against Colonization, after the red scare and the theory of the domino effect they were even more against Communism. So America agreed to help them.
Even with U.S. support French soldiers were brutally hit at every turn by the Vietminh guerrilla tactics. After the defeat at Dien Bien Phu, on May 7, 1954 France finally turned tail and surrender.
With the Vietminh, Vietcong, Ho Chi Minh Trail, credibility gaps and Tet offensive and America's own citizens against them Nixon finally was forced to call of what is probably the most embarrassing war the U.S. ever fought in. Within a few years South Vietnam was conquered by North Vietnam. That war really was useless.